2021's Photo Challenge: Day 30 #APicADay

 Today I took The babydoll on a bit of a walk, but she wanted to pick up every leaf she came across. That made progress slow. And I didn't get to take as many pictures as I'd have liked.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/75 s, and ISO 160

These are some attractive flowers outside the door of one of our neighbors. I don't know what they are, but I meant to take a picture of them the last time I was out at this location, but didn't do it then.

2021's Photo Challenge: Day 27 #APicADay

 I bundled The babydoll after breakfast, grabbed the camera, and went on a walk. But The babydoll wanted to pick up all the leaves. All the leaves. So, my walk was a lot slower than I had been anticipating.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/85 s, and ISO 1600

For some reason, this dogwood has decided to go into full bloom right now. It should be getting ready to shed its leaves though.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 115mm, f/4.2, 1/320 s, and ISO 1600

This one just captures the feel of the season.

2021's Photo Challenge: Day 19 #APicADay

 Today, The pup wanted to ride his bicycle. So, I got him shod, put on The babydoll's jacket and shoes, and grabbed the camera. We went around the same place about three times.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/8.0, 1/120 s, and ISO 160 (cropped)

Near the end of our time outside, I heard the tell-tale tapping of a woodpecker, and I was able to locate it.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 148mm, f/8.0, 1/250 s, and ISO 160

I am unsure of the type of tree this leaf grew on.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 148mm, f/8.0, 1/100 s, and ISO 160

But this is a single red maple leaf amongst green ones.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 77mm, f/8.0, 1/280 s, and ISO 160

And these daisies were still in good condition despite the cold temperatures and rain recently.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 134mm, f/8.0, 1/320 s, and ISO 160

This leaf was picked up by The pup, and he said I needed to take a picture of it. So, I did.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/8.0, 1/120 s, and ISO 160

Another shot of the woodpecker just after the featured image of the day.

2021's Photo Challenge: Day 18

 There was a lot of sunshine today. And The pup was at preschool, so I only had to worry about The babydoll. That left me with a chance to go for a walk.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 110mm, f/4.5, 1/100 s, and ISO 160

I just liked the way these sat on the wall, and the water the overturned leaf had collected.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 141mm, f/11, 1/100 s, and ISO 160

The neighbors have some mums that are still in full bloom.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 164, f/4.6, 1/680 s, and ISO 160

There are a surprising number of roses still blooming.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/140 s, and ISO 160

And it had rained recently.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/8.0, 1/40 s, and ISO 160

This was another leaf on the same wall as the featured image for the day.

2021's Photo Challenge: Day 16 #APicADay

 The babydoll had me put her shoes on this morning, and then went to the front door, and insisted that I take her out. So, I grabbed the camera and followed her. The pup rushed out with us, and quickly took over the walk.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 60mm, f/5.0, 1/160 s, and ISO 160

How nice of my neighbors to set this display of pumpkins up in such a convenient location.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/70 s, and ISO 160

You can see the vitality leaving the leaf.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 160

It was foggy as we were walking along, and I saw these trees reaching up into it. I thought I could make an interesting image out of it, but I think my vision may have exceeded my abilities in this case.

2021's Photo Challenge: Day 11 #APicADay

 I was able to take The babydoll on a walk this morning while The pup was at preschool. I brought my camera along as well.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 18-55 @ 46mm, f/4.0, 1/600 s, and ISO 160

I could have gone with either picture today. This was the one I put forward today. A ragged daisy, doggedly hanging on despite the weather and elements.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 18-55 @ 55mm, f/4.0, 1/160 s, and ISO 160

This one is a rose bud. There was a break in the shadow on the rose bush, and it illuminated just this water dropped bud.

Quote of the Day: 15 September 2021 #QotD

“A runny nose is a great defense mechanism if you’re a kid brother.” -Patrick F. McManus
[The pup has had a runny nose for the past five days. It's pretty gross. And The babydoll has had one as well for the past two. She's worse, since she's not yet two. You try to get two kids who are five or younger to blow their noses instead of doing ... other things with the discharge. Good luck.]

Quote of the Day: 25 August 2021 #QotD

“The capable communicator who can elicit and assert information is far less likely to be a victim than is the wallflower.” -Gavin de Becker
[I don't know that I'll have to worry about this with either The pup or The babydoll, as they both seem intent on talking to everyone they encounter. But we do try to get them pointed in the right direction.]

Quote of the Day: 10 December 2020 #QotD

“Teaching children to work is not child abuse. We teach them to work not for our benefit, but because it gives them both dignity in a job well done today and the tools and character to win in the future as adults.” -Dave Ramsey
[I hope I am able to instill a willingness to work in both The pup and The babydoll. I also know that they are not blank slates upon which I can execute my will. I will do my best, and hope that they will make the choices that will best facilitate success.] 

#APicADay 2020: Day 335

 Down to a month left after today. 

I packed The pup up into the stroller, and headed out this afternoon. The babydoll was napping, and my wife got to keep her company.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 148mm, f/4.5, 1/90 s, and ISO 160

Oak leaves are some of the few that are left on the trees, and even some of those have already shed all their leaves.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 55mm, f/4.0, 1/340 s, and ISO 160

Though sometimes you can still find maple leaves on the tree.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/9 s, and ISO 160

I really am astonished at how well I'm able to handhold this lens at full extension, and for relatively long shutter speeds. The OIS must be pretty good. It wasn't really a very rainy day, but these maple branches still have water drops on them.

#APicADay 2020: Day 319

 My wife had made plans with some of her coworkers to go to the zoo this morning. So, we loaded the kids up, and off to the zoo we went. Even though it seems to be raining fairly heavily. Thankfully, it had lightened up quite a bit before we got there.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 3200   

This could have had either the ISO or the aperture stopped down, but it was toward the end of the day. The tigers usually aren't very active, or in positions that make for good photos. Luckily, today this girl was in the mood to move.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/6.4, 1/28 s, and ISO 250

The mountain goats are right at the entrance. And today was the first time I've seen more than two of them in the same place. Only this one was interested in posing for me, though.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/6.4, 1/2 s, and ISO 800 (cropped)

I really should have bumped the ISO on this shot up a bit more. It was a very dark day. But this black bear was willing to sit still long enough for the shot. I cropped it to square to get rid of some distracting elements on the left side of the frame.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/20 s, and ISO 160

With almost all the buildings being closed, the elephants were put out in their yards. And they were being a bit playful.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/25 s, and ISO 160

This is one of the males. I don't know the animals well enough to know which one, though.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 128mm, f/5.0, 1/17 s, and ISO 160

A wider shot from about the same time.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 181mm, f/4.7, 1/13 s, and ISO 3200

This chameleon was pretty funny. It fell over on its side while trying to climb the enclosure barrier. The lights in this room were a bit warmer than my white balance setting, and the enclosure added a green cast. I had to do some color correction to get it to this point.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/9 s, and ISO 1000

The painted dogs were not being interesting, but at least they were on exhibit today. Unlike last time I was there.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/140 s, and ISO 3200

This cheetah was up and moving. They usually camp out by a window.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/680 s, and ISO 3200

The lionesses, at least these two, were sitting out in the rain. This is shot through the plexiglass.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/220 s, and ISO 3200

The giraffe were not in positions that were interesting to shoot. This was the best I could come up with, and it's not great. I'll need to go back for more giraffe shots.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/750 s, and ISO 3200

This is the beginning of the rest of the series of shots of the tiger up and moving around.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/250 s, and ISO 3200

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 3200

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 3200

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/280 s, and ISO 3200

I was pleased with the length of the show this girl put on for us. They usually lay down in a corner of the enclosure, right below where the viewing positions for the enclosure are. That makes it really hard to see them, let alone photograph them.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with how the new lens lets me get far tighter compositions on the animals. The XF 18-55 left me feeling too constrained by the focal lengths available to me.

#APicADay 2020: Day 318

 I loaded the kids up for another walk today. The pup was convinced we were going to go to the park, and when he found out we weren't, he got very upset. He was a little pill through the whole walk. The babydoll, on the other hand, was a delight.

Today's image: 

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 110mm, f/6.4, 1/75 s, and ISO 160

These maple leaves were hanging on on a branch that was otherwise devoid of leaves. It felt like a good opportunity to grab an interesting image, and the light coming through the leaves made even more interesting to me.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/6.4, 1/550 s, and ISO 200

The oak leaves were similar, in that I liked the way the light shone through them. But I'll have to take a look at my camera's settings, because I thought I hadn't changed the ISO setting.

#APicADay 2020: Day 303

 I loaded the kiddos up in the stroller and headed out on a walk today. We got about a hundred feet away from the door, and I engaged the brake to take a picture. When I went to release it, the brake wouldn't release on one of the wheels. I futzed with it for a while, and then tried to limp it back to the house. Part way back I realized the wheel was turning again, and we headed back on the walk.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/240 s, and ISO 160

This is a pretty leaf. I like the tiny bit of green in the center of that lobe.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 86mm, f/7.1, 1/950 s, and ISO 160

The sun is shining through these leaves toward the camera.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/550 s, and ISO 160

I like this shot, but the other leaves are close the subject, and the same color, so it looks a little busy.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 148mm, f/4.5, 1/85 s, and ISO 160 (cropped)

The pumpkins on this porch looked fairly nice. I just liked them.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/280 s, and ISO 160

This is another case of the sun shining through the leaf at the camera.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 122mm, f/4.2, 1/800 s, and ISO 160

This shot tells a story, but it's not quite the story of what we're experiencing here at the moment.

#APicADay 2020: Day 300

 I dragged the kids to the park this afternoon. They got me out the door when I otherwise wouldn't have been able to.

Today's image: 

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 105mm, f/4.5, 1/10 s, and ISO 160

I saw this leaf on our walk yesterday, and when I had the chance to get a picture of it today, I took it. I like how it came out.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 190mm, f/4.8, 1/13 s, and ISO 160

I don't know what this plant is, but I've taken pictures of it before. I just haven't had the use of a lens like this to get an image like this before.